Schengen Agreement

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have conducted, or will now conduct, a cost benefit examination of the advantages and disadvantages of full United Kingdom accession to the Schengen agreement, including the benefits to United Kingdom citizens and third country nationals legally resident in the United Kingdom of rights of free movement within the European Union.

Lord Rooker: There has not been a full cost benefit examination of joining Schengen. The Government have considered this previously and remain of the opinion that a detailed study would not be a proper use of resources given their position on Schengen. Our decision not to participate in Schengen is based on our geography. Common travel arrangements are sensible for countries with land borders. However, the United Kingdom has a unique island position and traffic is naturally channelled to ports where immigration controls are most effective. Signing up to Schengen and abolishing our border control would conflict with this.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What stage has been reached in the review of legislation on the rehabilitation of offenders; and when announcements or decisions may be expected.

Lord Rooker: The review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is expected to report in the summer. cliff

Women in the Armed Forces

Baroness Golding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the outcome of the study into the employment of women in the Armed Forces.

Lord Bach: Women play a vital role in the Armed Forces. They have made, and continue to make, a valuable contribution to recent and current operations. The great majority of posts in the Armed Forces are already open to them. Only posts in the Royal Marines General Service, Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, the Infantry and Royal Air Force Regiment remain closed for reasons of combat effectiveness.
	Following a detailed study into the performance and suitability of women in these close-combat roles, we have concluded that the case for lifting the current restrictions has not been made. We are today placing in the House of Commons Library the report of this study, entitled Women in the Armed Forces, together with a short paper explaining the reasons for the decision.
	Although women are, on average, less able to meet the physical demands of these roles, some women would certainly be able to do so and this was not, therefore, in itself a reason to exclude them.
	The key issue was whether the inclusion of women in close combat teams could adversely affect the combat effectiveness of those teams in a high-intensity direct fire battle. All the units in question operate primarily in small units as fire teams or tank crews.
	The evidence available suggests that on operations other than close combat the presence of women in small units does not affect performance detrimentally. However, there is no evidence to show whether this remains the case under the extraordinary conditions of high intensity close combat.
	Given the lack of relevant direct evidence from either field studies or the experience of other countries, we have concluded that military judgment must form the basis of the decision. The military advice is that under the conditions of a high-intensity, close-quarter battle, group cohesion becomes of much greater significance to team performance and in such an environment the consequences of failure can have far-reaching and grave consequences. To admit women, therefore, would involve a risk without any offsetting gains in terms of combat effectiveness.
	The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 allows the Armed Forces to exclude women from close combat posts. The judgment of the European Court of Justice in Sirdar the Army Board and the Secretary of State and relevant European Community equality law uphold that position, subject to a requirement periodically to assess the position.
	The Ministry of Defence is committed to equality of opportunity consistent with the need to maintain combat effectiveness. It will continue to work with the Equal Opportunities Commission and discuss with it the results of further work to examine the wider issues raised by this study. Women must have the same opportunities as men to progress to the highest ranks.

School Places

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the extent of the demand on schools for places by newcomers into particular areas; and what steps are being taken to secure education provision for all children now out of school because of failure to provide a place in any chosen school.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department does not collect statistics on demand for school places by newcomers. Local education authorities (LEAs) have a statutory duty to ensure that sufficient school places are available for all pupils of compulsory school age and will take account of trends of pupil movement in their planning arrangements.
	Parents have a right to express a preference for a school but not a right to a place in a particular school. They also have a duty to ensure their children receive a suitable education in school or otherwise. If parents have been offered a school place for their child, the LEA has met its duty. If parents do not accept the place offered and do not make alternative provision, it is for the LEA to consider whether to take school attendance proceedings.

Schools: Pupil Participation

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the result of consultations inside and outside the Department for Education and Skills on the participation of young people in decisions which affect them in schools and the need for statutory requirements which reflect this.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Department for Education and Skills has consulted young people on the current Education Bill and on possible changes to the 14–19 curriculum. Some young people who took part in these consultations indicated that they would like a stronger voice in decisions that affected them in schools. The department has also received representations from organisations that have consulted young people, including some of those that comprise the Children's Consortium on Education, seeking a greater role for young people in the running of schools. In the debate on 9 May this Government set out their commitment to set out through statutory guidance a range of measures that schools should adopt to secure greater pupil participation. cliff

Personation of Voters

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any evidence that personation of voters is a problem in any part of the United Kingdom outside Northern Ireland.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We have no evidence to suggest that personation is a significant problem in England, Wales or Scotland. It is for the police to follow up any allegation of personation, and we recognise the importance of doing so to preserve the integrity of the poll.

Regional Government

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the cost of the restructuring reviews of local government which would be required if regional government was to be introduced by region.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We are currently discussing the cost of reviews with the Boundary Committee. Costs are likely to vary significantly, depending on the number of county and district councils in a region.

Millennium Dome

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the explanation for the monthly increase in cost of maintaining the Millennium Dome from £251,000 in January to £287,000 in February.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The monthly cost of managing and maintaining the dome site fluctuates according to variations in regular outgoings and routine maintenance cycles. The monthly costs include rates, utilities, security and maintenance and English Partnerships' staff costs on management and maintenance of the dome.
	The difference between the January and February figures is a result of such routine fluctuations and is mainly as a result of particular maintenance works that were required in February but not in January. It should be noted that costs rose from October (£229,000) to November 2001 (£275,000) but were lower between November 2001 and December 2001 (£266,000) and between December 2001 and January (£251,000) this year, all reflecting routine fluctuations.
	All dome related costs incurred by English Partnerships will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds. cliff

Millennium Dome

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the cost of the telephone calls made from the Millennium Dome during January and February 2002; by whom they were made; and for what purpose.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No calls were made from the dome itself during January and February apart from in relation to the Ministry of Sound event on New Year's Eve 2001, for which English Partnerships received full reimbursement of costs.
	The bills for telephone services to the dome site have not yet been finalised in relation to January and February due to ongoing delays by the service provider, particularly in transferring accounts formerly held by the New Millennium Experience Company to English Partnerships.

Building Regulations: Approved Document B

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place a limit on the compartment size for single storey warehouse, distribution or storage premises within the Building Regulations and Approved Document B in the interests of the fire service and firefighters.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There are currently no plans to change either Part B of the Building Regulations or the approved documents that support this part so as to limit the compartment size in single storey warehouse, distribution and storage premises.
	However, we are continuing to keep this issue under review. As with any new guidance within an approved document, any decision in the future with regard to single storey premises of this type would need to take account of a range of views, expert advice and of course a full regulatory impact assessment.

Building Regulations: Approved Document B

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the guidance on the use of sandwich panels contained in the 2000 edition of Approved Document B is mandatory; and what powers are provided to building control authorities and approved inspectors to control the selection and use of such panels.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: None of the guidance contained within Approved Document B is mandatory. There is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an approved document if the person carrying out the work prefers to meet the relevant requirement in some other way. Approved documents are intended to provide guidance on ways of meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations for some of the more common building situations. It is for the Building Control Body, on a case-by-case basis, to satisfy itself that the requirements of the Building Regulations have been met. In relation to sandwich panels, its considerations in such matters can be assisted by referring to the relevant guidance contained within Appendix F of Approved Document B, along with any other suitable sources of information. The powers of enforcement of the Building Regulations are set out in various sections of the Building Act 1984. Sections 35 and 36 provide the main powers for enforcement by a local authority and paragraph 52(1)(c) stipulates the course of action to be taken by an approved inspector who is of the opinion that there is a contravention of a provision of the Building Regulations.

Bovine TB

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the total numbers of animals culled following tuberculosis testing for each of the years 1997 to 2002; and in which countries is the current infection at large.

Lord Whitty: The information requested is not available in the format requested, in that county figures for 2002 are not yet available. All of the following information is available on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk
	The following table shows the number of cattle compulsorily slaughtered from 1997 to 2002.
	
		
			 Year Total Cattle Compulsorily Slaughtered 
			 1997 3,669 
			 1998 5,884 
			 1999 (prov) 6,772 
			 2000 (prov) 8,353 
			 2001 (prov) 6,229 
			 Jan-Mar 2002 (prov raw data) 3,779 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of herds affected by new confirmed incidents of bovine TB in England and Wales from 1996 to 2001, broken down by county.
	The number of herds affected by new confirmed incidents of bovine TB data as at 15 March 2002.
	
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999* 2000* 2001* 
			 England   
			 Avon 19 13 23 22 32 12 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Berkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Buckinghamshire 0 0 0 1 2 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 2 2 3 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cornwall 84 68 132 125 158 60 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Derbyshire 3 0 7 19 10 7 
			 Devon 68 87 100 134 183 73 
			 Dorset 6 15 8 20 10 9 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Sussex 1 4 1 5 2 1 
			 Essex 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 56 90 130 133 170 37 
			 Greater  London—E 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater  London—SE 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater  Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hereford &  Worcester 59 79 111 128 145 63 
			 Hertford 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Northumberland 1 0 2 1 2 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Oxfordshire 0 0 3 1 2 0 
			 Shropshire 1 5 3 2 18 9 
			 Somerset 14 25 36 42 62 15 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Staffordshire 9 24 34 36 27 38 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tyne and Wear 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 1 0 1 0 1 1 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 West Sussex 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 14 29 31 66 54 20 
			 Total England 339 440 631 741 886 346 
			  
			 Wales   
			 Clwyd 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Dyfed 32 22 49 60 68 77 
			 Gwent 60 27 24 36 48 18 
			 Gwynedd 2 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Mid Glamorgan 1 2 1 1 1 0 
			 Powys 12 2 6 13 26 27 
			 South  Glamorgan 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 West  Glamorgan 3 2 4 15 7 4 
			 Total Wales 110 55 86 127 150 127 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Each new confirmed TB incident relates to a herd which has been TB free but which during the time period was found to have TB.
	2. Although it is acknowledged that many of the counties listed no longer exist as administrative authorities, data are presented in this form in order to retain continuity for historical comparison.
	*1999, 2000 and 2001 figures are provisional due to outstanding test results.
	Source: Compiled from information provided by divisional veterinary managers and the department's animal health administrative database.

State Veterinary Service

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (a) overtime and (b) time off in lieu policies for the State Veterinary Service.

Lord Whitty: The State Veterinary Service adheres to the departmental policies which govern overtime and time off in lieu:
	prior approval to work overtime must be obtained in all cases;
	managers are asked to make every effort to avoid overtime working and as far as possible ensure that it occurs only at time of exceptional pressure of work;
	wherever possible, volunteers are sought and weekend overtime avoided;
	a long hours culture is not encouraged, nor are regular calls on particular groups of staff; and
	as an alternative to payment, time off in lieu may be taken.
	Staff in the Senior Civil Service, and those who do not work set conditioned hours or whose pay already includes payment for working overtime, and fee paid staff are not eligible for overtime payments.

BSE

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish an updated table showing the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Britain each week during the calendar year 2001 and the year 2002 to date, together with the moving annual total of cases for each 52-week period.

Lord Whitty: The number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 2001 and in the current year to 10 May, and the moving annual totals of "confirmed" and "reported" cases for each 52-week period
		
			 2001 2002 
			 Week number Number confirmed each week 52-week total confirmed 52-week total reported Week number Number confirmed each week 52-week total confirmed 52-week total reported 
			 1 20 1,561 1,836 1 0 1,032 1,207 
			 2 38 1,566 1,813 2 19 1,031 1,209 
			 3 14 1,520 1,802 3 22 1,015 1,208 
			 4 12 1,519 1,780 4 63 1,064 1,200 
			 5 11 1,505 1,760 5 23 1,075 1,201 
			 6 12 1,504 1,743 6 54 1,118 1,184 
			 7 35 1,476 1,732 7 45 1,151 1,185 
			 8 14 1,434 1,705 8 16 1,132 1,182 
			 9 14 1,416 1,689 9 31 1,149 1,174 
			 10 11 1,394 1,674 10 14 1,149 1,160 
			 11 7 1,355 1,637 11 45 1,183 1,151 
			 12 14 1,362 1,614 12 19 1,195 1,153 
			 13 5 1,291 1,597 13 46 1,227 1,146 
			 14 21 1,271 1,572 14 0 1,222 1,152 
			 15 13 1,258 1,564 15 39 1,240 1,154 
			 16 6 1,239 1,557 16 31 1,258 1,156 
			 17 13 1,227 1,541 17 20 1,272 1,162 
			 18 19 1,220 1,525 18 29 1,288 1,169 
			 19 16 1,207 1,495 19 11 1,280 1,162 
			 20 16 1,193 1,472 
			 21 16 1,171 1,443 
			 22 15 1,160 1,433 
			 23 9 1,152 1,426 
			 24 16 1,146 1,410 
			 25 15 1,096 1,400 
			 26 13 1,083 1,389 
			 27 17 1,068 1,380 
			 28 18 1,065 1,388 
			 29 10 1,054 1,382 
			 30 23 1,047 1,376 
			 31 7 994 1,373 
			 32 16 995 1,361 
			 33 36 1,011 1,368 
			 34 22 1,012 1,356 
			 35 9 987 1,363 
			 36 25 993 1,360 
			 37 11 997 1,353 
			 38 29 986 1,350 
			 39 36 1,002 1,344 
			 40 43 1,020 1,333 
			 41 33 1,027 1,320 
			 42 38 1,015 1,309 
			 43 40 1,029 1,306 
			 44 38 1,041 1,285 
			 45 27 1,050 1,278 
			 46 34 1,053 1,275 
			 47 14 1,042 1,267 
			 48 29 1,047 1,240 
			 49 31 1,061 1,230 
			 50 27 1,052 1,217 
			 51 24 1,055 1,223 
			 52 0 1,032 1,216 
		
	
	*The number of confirmed cases is increasing due to the enhanced BSE surveillance that has been carried out since July 2001. Cases found as a result of this active surveillance are not included in the number of reported cases.

Abortion

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the report produced by the deVeber Insitute in Toronto, Canada, entitled Women's Health After Abortion: The Medical and Psychological Evidence.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The safety and psychological effects of abortion were considered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in its evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000). The college's report concludes that immediate complications are uncommon and that possible long-term effects, including breast cancer, infertility and psychological sequelae, are rare or unproven.

Smuggling of Illegal Drugs

Lord Dixon-Smith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total cost of the Customs and Excise service in preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs into the United Kingdom, and
	What is the total annual expenditure on preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs at Heathrow Airport.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Details of the resources allocated by HM Customs and Excise to detect and deter the smuggling of illegal drugs and other prohibited goods are published in its annual departmental report. Separate figures for Heathrow Airport are not available.

Women in Sport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Question by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 8 May (HL Deb, col. 1223), which Minister or Ministers will attend the World Conference on Women in Sport to be held in Canada 16–19 May; what are their objectives; and how they will report directly to each House of Parliament upon their return from Canada.

Baroness Blackstone: No Minister will be attending the World Conference of Women in Sport in Montreal between 16–19 May.

Women in Sport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Question by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 8 May (HL Deb, col. 1223), what action have they taken to encourage sporting bodies to sign up to the Women's Sports Foundation's National Action Plan and to put their principles into practice.

Baroness Blackstone: The Women's Sport Foundation (WSF) recently briefed Richard Caborn, and its Chief Executive will be meeting government officials at the end of May to discuss how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport can support the WSF's new strategic plan.

Historical Sites: Excavation

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many historical sites in England are at present undergoing excavation and exploratory work.

Baroness Blackstone: There is no organisation that keeps an overview of all archaeological work that is presently being undertaken in England. The Government can only provide data in relation to projects supported by English Heritage. In 2001–02 its Archaeological Commissions Programme provided grant aid and advice to 342 projects. The Archaeological Investigations Project, which is funded through English Heritage's Archaeological Commissions Programme, does collate year-on-year information on all archaeological projects undertaken in the commercial sector. The results of this are published in a series of hard-copy reports each year, a summary of which is available through the Archaeological Data Service website.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following his acceptance of the recommendations of the recent quinquennial review of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Attorney-General has made or plans to make any changes in that agency's framework document.

Lord Goldsmith: In his quinquennial review of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Sir Quentin Thomas recommended that the framework document for the Treasury Solicitor's Department should be revised to provide the agency with the flexibilities it required to continue to meet the growing demand for efficient and high quality legal services from government departments and other publicly funded bodies in England and Wales. I am pleased to announce the publication of a revised framework document, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.
	The framework document has also been published on the Treasury Solicitor's website (www.treasury-solicitor.gov.uk)

Belfast Agreement: Early Release Scheme

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 10 April (WA 104) concerning the Belfast Agreement of 1998 and a suggestion of amnesty for all terrorists, whether the question could be answered as asked.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The early release scheme was an integral part of the Belfast Agreement. What the British and Irish Governments said in their proposals of 1 August 2001 was that it would be a natural development of the scheme for relevant prosecutions and extraditions not to be pursued.

Northern Ireland: Paramilitary-style Assaults

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider any murders and beatings to be linked to the Provisional IRA since 31 August 1994; and, if so, how many.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Statistical information is held only under the general categories of Republican and Loyalist. The following table provides figures to date for both categories.
	
		31 August 1994 to 15 May 2002
		
			 Number of security related murders By Loyalist By Republican Total 
			  72 73 145 
			 Number of casualties as a result of  paramilitary-style assaults By Loyalist By Republican Total 
			  677 637 1,314 
			 Number of casualties as a result of  paramilitary-style shootings By Loyalist By Republican Total 
			  410 233 643 
		
	
	Note:
	2002 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Organisations and Ceasefire

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether involvement in the international drug trade on the part of a paramilitary organisation is compatible with being on ceasefire; and
	What they consider is meant by the expression "ceasefire"; and
	Whether they will define in the Northern Ireland context what they understand by the concept of an organisation which is considered to be no longer on ceasefire.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 requires the Secretary of State to specify any organisation which he believes (a) is concerned with terrorism in connection with the affairs of Northern Ireland or in promoting or encouraging it; and (b) has not established or is not maintaining a complete and unequivocal ceasefire. The meaning of terrorism for the purposes of the Act is defined in Section 13. No definition is given for ceasefire, but Section 3(9) lists four considerations which the Secretary of State must take into account in judging whether a complete and unequivocal ceasefire is being maintained. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue to endeavour to meet the obligations placed on him by the legislation as interpreted by the courts.

Northern Ireland Prison Officers: Attacks

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Northern Ireland prison officers or their properties have been subject of attack in each month since 1 January 2000.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: During the period 1 January 2000 to April 2002 there have been three attacks on prison officers and 14 attacks on prison officers' properties. The monthly breakdown is listed in the table below.
	
		Attacks on officers and their property
		
			 Month Officers Homes/ Property 
			 January 2000  1 
			 February 2000 
			 March 2000  1 
			 April 2000 
			 May 2000 
			 June 2000 
			 July 2000 
			 August 2000 
			 September 2000 
			 October 2000 
			 November 2000 
			 December 2000  1 
			 January 2001 
			 February 2001  1 
			 March 2001 
			 April 2001 
			 May 2001 2 
			 June 2001 
			 July 2001 
			 August 2001 1 
			 September 2001 
			 October 2001  2 
			 November 2001  1 
			 December 2001 
			 January 2002  6 
			 February 2002 
			 March 2002  1 
			 April 2002

Prime Minister: Holiday in Egypt

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 1 May (WA 132), whether statements by the Prime Minister's spokesman that the Prime Minister had paid for his own Christmas holiday and that of his extended family in Egypt are accurate.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The position is as the Prime Minister made clear in the Register of Members' Interests.